Rep. Thomas Massie is getting no apparent pushback from either party in the House after a social media post that suggested Congress was more interested in “Zionism” than “American patriotism.”
The Kentucky Republican posted a meme on X on Tuesday that put the two concepts at odds — drawing condemnation from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called it antisemitic, as well as from the Biden White House. But among Massie’s House colleagues, the move is attracting little if any attention.
Interviews with nearly a dozen House members from both parties on Wednesday revealed a lack of concern and awareness of Massie’s post. Some fellow Republicans defended Massie, who has opposed recent U.S. aid to Israel since its Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and staunchly defended critiques of its conservative government as not equivalent to antisemitism.
“Massie doesn’t have any antisemitic bones in his body,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) said, adding that he had not seen the Tuesday post.
House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) spoke for most colleagues in an interview, saying that “I don’t know anything about it.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a fellow conservative and vocal supporter of Israel, also brushed off Massie’s post.
Massie voted against a resolution the House passed last week that affirmed Israel’s right to exist, citing language in the resolution that he said equated anti-Zionism with antisemitism. The lack of internal criticism of his stance contrasts starkly with the backlash faced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — who voted “present” on last week’s resolution — after she publicly invoked a slogan that’s widely perceived as calling for the elimination of the Jewish state.
A spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson did not return a request for comment on whether he had discussed the post with Massie.
Despite Schumer amplifying the post — and urging Massie to take it down — there’s also no sign that Democrats have discussed the image.
“I didn’t see this,” said Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), a member of the caucus’ leadership.
The Kentucky lawmaker responded to Schumer’s call to delete his post on Tuesday by indicating that he had meant to draw a contrast between Congress’ support for Israel and its treatment of migration on the southern border.
“If only you cared half as much about our border as you do my tweets,” Massie replied to Schumer.
